Process of smelting zinc.



Patented Man Il, i902.

No. 694,947'.v

S. DAVIES.

PRGGESS 0F SMELTING Z180.

(Application led June 5, 1990.)

' (no model.)-

' No. 694,947. Patented Mar. Il, |992.

S..DAVIES. l

PROCESS 0F SMELTING ZINC.

(Applm `n m d June 5 1900) 2 Shsets-Shaet 2.

(No Model.) l

Ntra

Pliars aren Paocess or Sivit-:triste zinc.

SEEGIFICATIGN' formng'part of Letters Patent No. 694,947, dated March 11, 1902.

pplicatin filed June 5, 1900 nerinl No. 19,161. (llo sgecimensg i Kansas, haveinvented anew and useful Process of Smelting Zinc, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of smelting zinc; and it consists in placing a mixture of zinc oxid and particles or pieces of non-rejfractory substances Within a retort or the like,

externally heating the latter, passing hydrocarbon gas through the charge, whereby the reduction is effected, the gas combining with the oxygen of the ore and setting free Ythe metal, conducting the gas through a condenser to cause a deposition of the metallic zinc, and then allowing the gas to escape.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a,

sectional view of a Belgian furnace modified as required to adapt the same for smelt# ing zinc by the improved process. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, on a larger scale, taken through one of the retorts, one of the vcondensers, and through the pipes for conducting gas to the interior of the retort. Fig.

3 is a front elevation of a Belgian furnace 'as modified in accordance with the requirements of the improvedprocess. l

In carrying out the improved process of smelting zinc the ore, which is zinc'oxid, is rst prepared in the usual manner by pulverizing the same. The ore particles are admiXed with particles of non-combustible nonmetallic refractory material, as-pieces of old retorts, fire-clay, and the like, reduced to about the size of a pea, the Whole being thoroughly commingled. The' ore thus prepared is placed in a retort l in asuitable furnace 2, the retort being adapted to be highly heated from its exterior, closed to the outer air, and in communication at its outer end with a receiver or condenser 3, of the usual form, the exterior surfaces of which are cooled by contact with the outer air. l

In charging or placing the ore in theV retort the inner end of the latter is covered with the ore to a suitable depth. A pipe 4, made of lire-clay or other suitable refractory non-Inetallic substance, is then placed in the retort on the ore andv the retort then completely I through.

n charged,` the pipe being buried in the ore.

The inner end ofthe said pipe isopen, and.

the outer end thereof is downturned andvcommunicates with a gas-pipe, as at 5, for conducting hydrocarbon gas, las natural gas, to said pipe 4, the said pipe V5 having suitable cocks G to control the passage of the gas thereln placing thecondenser on the outer end of the retort to close the same the downturned outer end of the pipe 4 is passed throughy an opening in the lower side of the condenser, as shown, 1 The joint between the condenser and the retort is 'then cemented, and the opening in the condenser through which the downturned end of the pipe 4 passes is also cemented, thus,preventing'leakage, and the cement also securing the pipes 4: and 5 together, as shown. The retort, as is Well known in 'funraces of this class,l must be thoroughly cleaned out at vthe completion of thesmelting of each charge. Hence the re clay pipe et is adapted to be quickly removed from the retort with the condenser. The mouth of the condenseris partially closed, as at 3a, with some porous substance, such as screened residues orashes from former charges, to prevent theescape of any metallic zinc that may accumulate in excess before being drawn from the condenser; but the mouth of the condenser must never be so closed as to prevent gases or vapors from escaping therefrom.

The-retort is highly heated exteriorly, and when the temperature reaches the requisite degree the hydrocarbon gas is introduced into and through the body of the ore in the retort. l

Owing to the relatively refractory particles which are commingled with the ore particles the gas penetrates the entire body of the charge, the gas combining with the oxygen of the ore, setting free and carrying the vaporized metal, the metallic vaporpassing into the .receiver or condenser and condensing therein as metallic zinc in a liquid state, Which'when poured into a mold is ready as spelter or commercial zinc for the market, the remaining gases escaping through the open month of the condenser into the air.

By the improved process the cost of the production of zinc is greatly lessened, especially in natural-gas regions.

Another advantage obtained by the improved process is that sulfur and other impurities are not introduced to the retort by the hydrocarbon gas, as when solid carbonaceous substances are used` Furthermore, a larger percentage of the zinc is recovered from every charge by lessening the quantity ot' the residuum of cinders and ashes and combined zinc. Another advantage resulting from the process is that the residues left in the retort after the sm elting of each charge are uncontaminated by any foreign admixture of impurities such as are found in all solid fuels. In practice it is not possible to recoverall of the zinc from the ore in a charge by a single smelting, and the residues thereof are treated over and over again until practically the entire amount ot' the zinc carried therein has been extracted.y The residues in the improved process being free from impurities, the same may be reintroduced to the retort Without producing any injurious effects,

which is not true of thc residues of charges treated by the ordinary process.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-.

The process ofsmelting zinc, consisting in placing a mixture ot' zinc oxid and particles of non-metallic refractory substances Within a retort, exteriorly heating the latter, pass? SAMUEL DAVIES.

Vitnesses: Y

WV. O. HAWKINS, REX BoWLUs. 

